Effects of the association of physical exercises and self-drainage in the treatment of cellulite

Introduction Cellulite is a descriptive term used to characterise the topographic alteration of the skin, with a high prevalence in females. Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) stands out as a technique that, when used alone or associated with other techniques such as exercises and/or physical activities, improves the general appearance of this condition. To evaluate the effects of self-MLD associated with supervised kinetic exercises in the treatment of cellulite and improvement in the quality of life of patients. Methods We included 50 participants, randomly divided into two groups: a control group of only diet and an exercise and MLD group (EMG) with diet. The participants were evaluated using a questionnaire evaluating the quality of life (Celluqol), electrical bioimpedance, body anthropometric measurements, and satisfaction analysis with the questionnaire GAIS. Results Significant improvement was observed in the quality of life of the EMG, in addition to presenting a significant reduction in %BF and analysed anthropometric measurements. In addition, evaluations regarding patient satisfaction showed significant improvements in the EMG. Conclusions Through the data presented, it is possible to conclude that the diet with caloric restriction associated with self-MLD promotes a significant improvement in individuals with cellulite.